Impact of a satellite-derived leaf area index monthly climatology in a global numerical weather prediction model

The leaf area index (LAI), defined as the one-sided green leaf area per unit ground area, is used in many numerical weather prediction (NWP) models as an indicator of the vegetation development state, which is of paramount importance to characterize land evaporation, photosynthesis, and carbon-uptake processes. LAI is often simply represented by lookup tables, dependent on the vegetation type and seasons. However, global LAI datasets derived from remote sensing observations have more recently become available. These products are based on sensors such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) or the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), onboard polar orbiting satellites that can cover the entire globe within typically 3 days and with a spatial resolution of the order of 1 km.

We examine the meteorological impact of satellite-derived LAI products on near-surface air temperature and humidity, which comes both from the stomatal transpiration of leaves and from the intercepted water on the surface of leaves, re-evaporating into the atmosphere.

Two distinct monthly LAI climatology datasets derived respectively from AVHRR and MODIS sensors are tested. A set of forecasts and data assimilation experiments with the integrated forecasting system of the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts is performed with the monthly LAI climatology datasets as opposed to a vegetation-dependent constant LAI. The monthly LAI is shown to improve the forecasts of near-surface (screen-level) air temperature and relative humidity through its effect on evapotranspiration, with the largest impact obtained over needleleaf forests, crops, and grassland. At longer time-scales, the introduction of the monthly LAI is shown to have a positive impact on the model climate particularly during the boreal spring, where the LAI climatology has a large seasonal cycle.     

Influence of a chip scale package on the frequency response of a MEMS microphone

This paper describes the influence of a chip scale MEMS package (CSMP) on the acoustic behaviour of a silicon microphone. The influence was calculated using an electro-mechanical–acoustical equivalent circuit. Standard packaging of microphones using die bonding and wire bonding leads to a large front volume which acts as a Helmholtz resonator. This can dramatically influence the frequency response of the microphone system by adding a second resonance. In the worst case this second resonance is in the acoustic frequency range, thus degrading its performance in an unacceptable way. In case of the CSMP only a small front volume is generated between the substrate and the flip-chipped microphone chip. Thus the resonance step-up is very small compared to standard packages. Furthermore the frequency response can be flattened by optimizing the geometry of the small sound holes in the substrate. By choosing an appropriate geometry of these sound holes the package can act as a low pass filter where the cut-off frequency can be placed to the desired value of the acoustic spectrum.     

Dynamic behavior of the discrete‐time double integrator with saturated locally stabilizing linear state feedback laws

The main contribution of this paper is to completely characterize the dynamic behavior of the discrete‐time double integrator with a saturated locally stabilizing linear state feedback law. In continuous‐time setting, any linear state feedback control law that locally stabilizes the double integrator also globally stabilizes the system in the presence of actuator saturation. In discrete‐time setting, the equivalent of the double integrator does not have the same property. In this paper, we completely characterize the global behavior of saturated locally stabilizing linear state feedback laws for the discrete‐time double integrator. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A mathematical model and a computer tool for the Tower of Hanoi and Tower of London puzzles

We propose a mathematical model for the Towers of Hanoi and London based on state graphs. The analysis of this model allows to address questions like equivalence of puzzles, difficulty of tasks and optimality of solutions using topological, metric and symmetry properties of the corresponding graphs.The mathematical model serves as a base for a computer program to administer tower puzzles in a variety of psychological test situations. It is suitable for bedside use and is equipped with numerous devices for post-processing of recorded data. Among these features is the graphical representation of the projection of the path taken by a test person onto the state graph.     

Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) as an alternative technique for rapid and quantitative screening of small molecules, useful in drug discovery

Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) is a label free technology for biomolecular interaction, which gives access to binding kinetic parameters from real time acquisition. It offers the possibility to test in a single run a large number of interactions, allowing rapid identification of the most suitable compounds toward a given biological entity. Until now, this technique has proven to be relevant for interaction between relatively large molecules (protein, antibodies, DNA) but has not been challenged yet for the screening of small molecules that can be of interested in the field of drug discovery. As a proof a principle, we have used SPRi to screen for interaction of several small molecules, referred to as G4-ligands on G-quadruplex DNA. This technology allowed to easy discrimination of the binding properties of four G4-ligands on quadruplex DNA models.     

A geostatistical algorithm to reproduce lateral gradual facies transitions: Description and implementation

Valid representations of geological heterogeneity are fundamental inputs for quantitative models used in managing subsurface activities. Consequently, the simulation of realistic facies distributions is a significant aim. Realistic facies distributions are typically obtained by pixel-based, object-based or process-based methods. This work presents a pixel-based geostatistical algorithm suitable for reproducing lateral gradual facies transitions (LGFT) between two adjacent sedimentary bodies. Lateral contact (i.e. interfingering) between distinct depositional facies is a widespread geometric relationship that occurs at different scales in any depositional system. The algorithm is based on the truncation of the sum of a linear expectation trend and a random Gaussian field, and can be conditioned to well data. The implementation introduced herein also includes subroutines to clean and geometrically characterize the obtained LGFT. The cleaned sedimentary body transition provides a more appropriate and realistic facies distribution for some depositional settings. The geometric measures of the LGFT yield an intuitive measure of the morphology of the sedimentary body boundary, which can be compared to analogue data. An example of a LGFT obtained by the algorithm presented herein is also flow simulated, quantitatively demonstrating the importance of realistically reproducing them in subsurface models, if further flow-related accurate predictions are to be made.     

Simultaneous external and internal stabilization of linear systems with input saturation and non-input-additive sustained disturbances

In this paper, we study simultaneous external and internal stabilization of the linear system under input saturation and non-input additive sustained disturbances. For systems that are asymptotic null controllable with bounded control, it is shown that a nonlinear dynamic feedback controller can be designed so that the closed-loop states remain bounded for any initial condition and for two classes of sustained disturbances, and that the equilibrium in the absence of disturbances is globally asymptotically stable.     

Isogeometric shape optimization of vibrating membranes

We consider a model problem of isogeometric shape optimization of vibrating membranes whose shapes are allowed to vary freely. The main obstacle we face is the need for robust and inexpensive extension of a B-spline parametrization from the boundary of a domain onto its interior, a task which has to be performed in every optimization iteration. We experiment with two numerical methods (one is based on the idea of constructing a quasi-conformal mapping, whereas the other is based on a spring-based mesh model) for carrying out this task, which turn out to work sufficiently well in the present situation. We perform a number of numerical experiments with our isogeometric shape optimization algorithm and present smooth, optimized membrane shapes. Our conclusion is that isogeometric analysis fits well with shape optimization.     

Synthesis and characterization of collagen/hydroxyapatite: magnetite composite material for bone cancer treatment

Our purpose was obtaining and characterizing a complex composite system with multifunctional role: bone graft material and hyperthermia generator necessary for bone cancer therapy. The designed system was a magnetite enriched collagen/hydroxyapatite composite material, obtained by a co-precipitation method. Due to the applied electromagnetic field the magnetite will induce hyperthermia and cause tumoral cell apoptosis. The complex bone graft system was characterised by XRD, FTIR and SEM, while the hyperthermia was quantify by measuring the temperature increase due to the applied alternative electromagnetical field.     

Modification of the formulas for third-order aberration coefficients

New parameters for calculation of third-order aberration coefficients (Seidel aberration coefficients) are introduced. The formulas for Seidel aberration coefficients are linear in these new variables. With these new variables it is possible to calculate the shape and the refractive index of the glass of the individual lenses of the optical system, which was not possible before.